We discuss the plea deal and release of Julian Assange with press freedom advocate Trevor Timm. “Thankfully, Julian Assange is finally going free today, but the press freedom implications remain to be seen,” says Timm, who explains the U.S. espionage case against Assange, which was opened under the Trump administration and continued under Biden. Timm expresses disappointment that Biden chose to continue prosecuting Assange rather than demonstrating his stated support of press freedom. If convicted, Assange could have been sentenced to 175 years in U.S. prison, which Timm calls a “ticking time bomb for press freedom rights.”

Transcript: https://www.democracynow.org/2024/6/25/julian_assange_freed_from_prison_pt2

    • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldOPM
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      3 days ago

      That is a smear used by the status quo (three letter agencies), they also use sexual abuse to smear people going against the narrative.

      “When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime, you are being ruled by criminals.” ― Edward Snowden

      I would do your own research(read and watch sources that go against your own bias) when talking about independent journalists, do not believe the status quo talking points and propaganda; we must be sure to not be afraid to be highly critical and to question those that work for the owner class (politicians, the duopoly, legacy media, and much more).

      • almar_quigley@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        Did he not release documents negative against Hillary Clinton ahead of the election and hold back on anything mentioning Trump? Selectively exposing crimes is possibly worse than hiding them altogether.

        • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldOPM
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          3 days ago

          Selectively exposing crimes is possibly worse than hiding them altogether.

          I am not sure how I would even respond to this type of thinking, I will just restate the quote below:

          “When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime, you are being ruled by criminals.” ― Edward Snowden

          • almar_quigley@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            I’m talking about Assange choosing to withhold certain knowledge/information on trump prior to the election. Are you saying that’s not a thing that happened? Because I feel like that’s a pretty well known fact. He actively sabotaged Hillary’s campaign in favor of Trump. He’s not the reason she lost but certainly didn’t help and certainly showed his true colors.

  • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldOPM
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    3 days ago

    “Julian Assange is free.” That’s what his wife tweeted after he left the Belmarsh Prison in London Monday, having reached a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors that will allow him to soon head home to Australia, ending a more than decadelong legal ordeal. Julian is now flying to the U.S. territory island of Saipan in the North Marianas, where he will appear before a U.S. district judge. He will plead guilty to one felony. He faced 175 years in a United States prison.

    Source: https://www.democracynow.org/2024/6/25/julian_assange_freed_from_prison_pt2